Wednesday Bird Droppings: Where it’s the eve of Opening Day

Good morning, Birdland!

There are no MLB games today of any kind. That is a travesty. Luckily, it is the last time this nightmare will happen to us between now and the all-star break. Thank the old gods and the new that winter is gone, spring has sprung and that baseball is back once again.

We shall see how long those warm feelings last as the losses pile up this season. Are you ready for Nate Karns opening games? What about starting right fielder Dwight Smith Jr.? Or maybe you are intrigued by a guy named Hanser Alberto playing actual games for the Orioles?

Oh yes, baseball is back and the O’s are in full rebuild mode. It’s gonna be ugly, but it might also be a little bit fun. Hopefully.

Links & Notes

New prospects, philosophies at O’s camp - MLB.com
If you are here, then you probably follow the Orioles top minor league prospects fairly closely. But in case you don’t, MLB Pipeline does a quick overview of how some of the club’s young guns fared this spring.

Will Orioles Fans Fill Camden Yards? - Forbes
No, probably not. But you can’t fault the ticket and promotions staff for trying. I’ve received more emails and phone calls from them this offseason than ever before. On top of that, they are continuing to run the “Kids Cheer Free” program plus some fun giveaways. Nonetheless, there are gonna be a lot of green seats throughout the summer.

Orioles odds-on favorites to finish with most losses in MLB - Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Orioles 59.5 over/under win total has been bet down to 57.5, That feels more appropriate. And it is exactly what the front office wants to happen. Fewer wins means higher draft picks and, hopefully, more talent in the organization. Let’s hope the short-term pain is worth the long-term reward.

Orioles savor trip to United States Naval Academy - Baltimore Sun
In which you can see pictures of Orioles players trying on body armor like a bunch of baseball-playing dorks. If these guys don’t win too many games, they may end up being pretty lovable at least.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

It is the 62nd birthday of Dave Van Gorder, an Orioles catcher for 12 games during the 1987 season. Also celebrating is 29-year-old Junior Lake, an outfielder for just eight games in 2015.

1994 - The O’s trade David Segui to the New York Mets for minor leaguer Tom Wegmann and a shortstop named Kevin Baez, who would never play another major league game.